World Vision Ghana, a child-focused Christian non-profit organisation, has donated teaching and learning materials as well as hygiene materials to five basic schools in the Builsa South District to improve learning outcomes and promote the wellbeing of children.
The items included 1,100 storybooks, 700 textbooks, 800 posters, 800 World Vision-branded exercise books, 3,744 tubes of toothpaste, 200 toothbrushes, 25 footballs, and 52 dual desks, sponsored by World Vision USA.
The organisation also donated 1,000 exercise books sponsored by Jay Kay Publishing to the beneficiary schools, which include Fumbisi Preparatory Primary and Junior High School, Kasiesa Primary and Junior High School, Baasa Primary and Junior High School, Naadema Primary and Junior High School, and Butrinsa Primary and Junior High School.
Additionally, the pupils of the schools were treated to a special birthday celebration with hot meals and drinks.
The intervention, dubbed “Birthday Bounce Back,” formed part of a yearly programme supported by child sponsors and donors of World Vision Ghana’s intervention in the Builsa South Area Programme.
Mr Moses Nsoh, Builsa South Area Programme Manager of World Vision Ghana, said the initiative was designed not only to celebrate children but also to strengthen education by addressing the shortage of teaching and learning materials in schools.
He explained that the organisation integrated education into the birthday celebration after identifying poor academic performance and inadequate access to textbooks as major challenges affecting children in the district.
“These materials will help improve academic performance while the birthday celebration shows love and care to the children,” he said.
Mr Nsoh said every child who participated in the programme was served nutritious food and drinks, describing the celebration as an opportunity for children to experience care and kindness while encouraging them to show love to one another.
He said the organisation’s interventions in the district also covered Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food security, and livelihood support, noting that several beneficiary schools now had access to mechanised boreholes and school gardens established by World Vision.
According to him, proceeds from produce harvested from the school gardens had enabled some schools to purchase footballs, jerseys, and other educational materials to support teaching and extracurricular activities.
Mr Nsoh disclosed that World Vision’s new five-year strategy placed greater emphasis on education, alongside health and livelihood interventions, aiming to reach 2.8 million vulnerable children and help them realise their full potential.
He said the organisation had also enrolled 15 apprentices this year in vocational training, particularly dressmaking, and was supporting them with tools and financial assistance.
This was in addition to the 25 young people who received similar support last year, aimed at providing opportunities for out-of-school adolescents to become self-reliant.
Mr Yango Crispin, Builsa South District Coordinating Director, commended World Vision for complementing the Assembly’s development efforts through interventions in education, disaster preparedness, and skills development.
He appealed to other development partners and non-governmental organisations to emulate World Vision’s example to accelerate development in the district.
Mr Stephen Ajubil Akumzeyam, Builsa South Deputy Director in charge of Monitoring and Supervision at the Ghana Education Service, urged the pupils to reciprocate the love shown by the sponsors through hard work and discipline.
He encouraged them to remain committed to their studies and become responsible citizens who would positively impact their communities.
Ms Blessing Akperi, a pupil of Fumbisi Preparatory Junior High School, expressed appreciation to World Vision, saying the birthday celebration was the first she had experienced.
She said the organisation had transformed learning conditions in the school by providing access to potable water, supporting the school garden, and nurturing pupils’ talents through leadership programmes such as the Child Parliament.
“Because of World Vision, I have gained the confidence to speak in public and represent my colleagues. The support they have given us has motivated me to study harder,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Ms Dorcas Akubadek, an apprentice, said World Vision had given her the opportunity to acquire vocational skills after financial constraints prevented her from continuing her education.
She said the skills training would enable her to become economically independent and expressed gratitude to the organisation for investing in the future of vulnerable young people.
